Envelop-moistening device.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HAMMOND, or MOUNDSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR or QNE-IHIRD To JAKE WILLIAMS, OE MOUNDSVILLE, W ST vm 4 v.

ENVELOP-MQISTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters-32.15am.

PatentedMay 21,1912.

Application filed October 27, 1911 Serial No. 657,092.

shall and State f West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envellop-Moistening Devices, of which the following is a specification, refer.- ence being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an envelop moistening device, and the primary object of 'my invention is the provision of novel means for moistening the flap of an envelop without resorting to the use of daubing devices or the licking of an envelop flap.

Another object of this invention is to providean envelop moistening device with a reservoir for supplying a 'liquid to the pads of the device.

With the above and other objects in View,

the invention resides in ,the novel construction, combinationandarrangement of parts to be hereinafter then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing,

. wherein Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the device, and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same.

A device in accordance with this inven-- tion comprises a structure having a base plate 1', end walls 2, a rear wall 3, a front wall 4 and a\platform 5. The base plate 1 projects beyond the end walls 2 and the lower edges of wall 4,-with the platform 5 in a plane parallel with the base late 1. Formed integral with the end walls 2 and converging to a point centrally of the, device are reservoir walls 6, these walls being-formed integral with a top plate 7 which is connected to the rear wall 3 and also to the end walls 2. The walls 6 are connected with theplatform 5, the latter'being also connected to the rear wall 35 The platform 5, walls 2, 3 and 6 and the top plate 7 form a reservolr 8 for a liquid, as water or mucilage. Access is had to the reservoir 8 for ,filling purposes through the mediumofan opening 9 in the rear wall 3, sa d opening being normally closed by a screw plug 10..

The platform 5 is provided with an angle recess 11 for an angle pad 12 made of felt.

or other absorbent material. This angle specifically described and said walls beyond the front 1 pieces 27 the platform 5 .prevent'evaporation. The plate 28' can be pad permits of the flap of an envelop being placed thereon for moisteningpurposes, the

shape of the pad accommodating the edges of various sizes of envelop flaps.

The walls 6 are provided with angularly disposed ports 13 with the lower ends of said ports terminating in proximity to the pad 12. The upper ends of the ports terminate in guides 14 within the reservoir 8. Arranged in said guides and adapted to normally close the ports 13' are the lower angle ends 15 of valve stems 16. These stems extend upwardly through tapering openings 17 and through cylindrical sockets 18 carried by the. top plate 7 The sockets 18 are provided with caps 19 through which said valve stems extend, said stems having buttons or heads 20 to facilitate elevating said stems. The stems are normally retained in a lowered position by coiled retractile springs 21 arranged within the sockets 18, the lower ends of said springs being connected, as at 22 to the stems 16, while the upper ends of said springs engage the inner sides of the caps 19. By elevating the stems 16, a portion of the liquid can escape through the ports 13 on to the pad 12 and in this manner the pad can be always maintained moist for instant use.

Movably suspended above the pad 12 is an'angle presser' plate 23 having the under s de thereof provided with a strip of felt 24.

The presser plate is suspended by coiled springs 25 from outwardly extending arms 26, carried by the wallsfi. The top of the presser plate 23 is provided with finger whereby said plate can be easily lowered to press the flap of an envelop in engagement with the pad 12.

When the device is not in use, a triangular-shaped cover plate 28 can be placed upon to close the recess 11, and

held in place by push pins 29, carried by the wall 2, theselpins being pushed inwardly to engage in the end of the cover plate 28.

Arranged in the. lower front edges of the I end walls 2 is a transverse rod 30 and pivotally mounted upon said, rod are the apertured ears31' of a triangularshaped presser head. 32,';sai-d head having the underneath side' thereof provided with a PlGCB'Of felt 33. The head is normally retained in an ele vated inclined position by coiled retractile. springs 34 arranged adja'c'ent'to the ends ofthe presser head, said springs having the upper ends thereof connected to the wall 4:, as at and the lower ends thereof to the edges of the head 32, as at 36.

In operation, the flap of the enevelop is first opened and placed upon thepad 12 with the gummed and adhesively coated side thereof facing the pad. The presser plate 23 is then lowered to force the flap of the envelop into engagement with the pad 12 and slightly compress said pad whereby the gummed flap will be moistened. The presser plate 23 is then released, the flap of the envelop withdrawn and placed upon the base plate 1, beneath the presser head 32. This head is then lowered to close the flap and seal the envelop.

The device in its entirety can be made of light and durable metal, of various sizes and is susceptible to any desired ornamentation.

While in the drawing there'is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof are susceptible to such A device of the type described comprising a platform, a reservoir supported thereby, a top plate closing said reservoir, an angle pad arranged in said 'plat'form,.the walls of said reservoir having ports formed therein for conveying the contents of said reservoir to said pad, guides integral with the reservoir walls and communicating with said-openings,ta spring supported presser plate arranged above said pad, and spring cont-rolled valve stems extending through said top plate and-having angle-shaped lower ends projecting in said guides for con trolling the outlet of the contents of said reservoir. I p

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HAMMOND.

Witnesses: O. M. MoCRAcKEN, R. D. GAINESLEY. 

